Clasp for collars, etc.



Mar ch 7, 1933. w AVERILL 1,900,686

CLASP FOR COLLARS, ETC

Filed June 9, .952

I jaw m wijz'aw lwM/Z 7 W 7 7 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. AVERILL F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH POLLAK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS CLASP FOR COLLARS, ETC.

Application filed June 9, 1982. Serial No. 816,220.

This invention relates to a clasp adapted to couple together the front ends of a soft apparel collar, or the front edges of other garment portions.

A collar clasp in common use includes an oblong bar adapted to extend across the space between the turned down ends of a soft collar, the ends of the bar being provided with outer jaws and with inner jaws spring-pressed against the outer jaws and displaceable outward therefrom by the forcible insertion of the collar ends between the jaws, the yielding pressure of the inner against the outer jaws causing an undesirable opposition to such insertion.

Clasps have been proposed having means operable by pressure between a thumb and finger to temporarily separate the inner from the outer jaws, and thus permit an unopposed insertion of the collar ends between the jaws, the inner jaws automatically closing on the interposed ends when the pressure is released.

All examples of clasps, characterized as 5 last stated, of which I am aware, are undesirably complicated and involve hinges composed of pintle and socket members, and springs cooperating with the hinges to close the inner jaws on the interposed inserted parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a clasp whose inner jaws are separable by pressure from the outer jaws, does not include springs cooperating with hinges, and

is of relatively simple, inexpensive and compact construction.

Of the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Figure l'is an edge view of a clasp em- 40 bodying the preferred form of my invention showing the inner jaws contacting with the outer jaws, the clasp being held between a thumb and finger preparatory to the separation of the inner from the outer jaws.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 vshowing the inner jaws separated from the outer jaws by pressure of the thumb and finger.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the 50. clasp shown by Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 shows in perspective an alternative construction of a clasp embodying the invention.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the. figures.

I will first describe the clasp shown by, Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The clasp is composed of a one-piece elon gated strip, preferably having fiat sides and oblong in cross section, the strip being composed of any suitable resilient and flexible metal adapted to be bent into the form shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3.

The strip includes a mid length portion 12 constituting an oblong bar, whichin a collar clasp, preferably has a gentle longitudinal curvature, connecting portions 13 connected by outer necks 14 with the ends of the bar portion 12, and extending in oppo site directions behind the latter, and end portions 15 connected by inner necks 16 with the connecting portions 13. v

The outer ends of the connecting portions 13 constitute outer jaws 17, and the outer ends of the end portions 15, constitute inner jaws 18.

The connecting portions 13 are bent so that they include resilient struts 19 hearing on the bar portion 12, and on the mid length of the end portions 15.

Said end portions therefore constitute levers whose fulcrums are formed by the struts 19. Said fulcrums normally maintain the inner jaws 18 pressed yieldingly against the outer jaws 17 as shown by Figure 1, and permit displacement of the inner jaws to permit unopposed insertion of collar parts 20, or the like, between the jaws. The inner ends of the levers, formed by the necks 16, are located in sufliciently close proximity to each other to permit the simultaneous displacement of the inner jaws 18 by pressure of a thumb on said ends, as indicated by Figure 2, opposite pressure being at the same time exerted on the bar portion 12 by a finger.

The clasp shown by Figure l is adapted more particularly to couple together relatively thick garment portions other than collar ends, for example,the front edges of a sweater.

In this embodiment of the invention the bar portion 12, the connecting portions 13, and the end or lever portions 15 are made in separate pieces. The bar portion 12 is provided with inwardly curled portion 17 constituting the outer jaws. The end portions 15 are provided with inner jaws 18. The connecting portions 13 which may be of thin sheet steel and are provided with fulcrum struts 19 are soldered or brazed at 21 to the bar portion 12 and at 22, to the end or lever portions 15.

The bar portion 12" may be of precious metal, or plated therewith, and may be provided at its mid length portion with an ornament 23 conventionally indicated by dotted lines.

It will be seen that in each embodiment of the invention there are no hinge ears and pintles, and no springs other than the fulcrum struts 19 or 19 these having a dual function in that they permit the end portions 15 or 15 to act as levers, and normally maintain the inner jaws in yielding contact with the outer jaws.

The strip shown by Figures 1, 2 and 3 has narrow transversely flat sides, and the inner ends of the levers are in close proximity to each other to permit the simultaneous displacement of the inner aws by pressure of a thumb on said inner ends. The bar 12 is provided at its mid length portion with a recess 24 forming a rest for a finger applied to the bar, said rest preventing liability of the crosswise tipping of the clasp by pressure exerted on said rest by a finger.

I claim:

1. A clasp of the character stated comprising an oblong bar, inwardly facing outer aws at the ends of said bar, resilient connecting portions fixed to said outer jaws and extending in opposite directions behind the bar, and end portions fixed to toe inner ends of the connecting portions, the outer extremities of the end portions constituting inner jaws, said connecting portions including resilient struts bearing on the bar and on the mid length of the end portions, so that said end portions constitute levers whose fulcrums, formed by said struts, normally maintain the inner jaws pressed against the outer jaws, and permit displacement of the inner aws to permit unopposed insertion of collar parts, or the like, between said jaws.

2. A clasp of the character stated, composed of a one-piece elongated resilient and flexible metal strip, said strip including a mid length portion constituting an oblong bar, resilient connecting portions extending in opposite directions behind the bar and connected by outer necks with the ends thereof, and end portions connected by inner necks with the connecting portions, the outer ends of the connecting and end portions constituting cooperating outer and inner jaws, said connecting portions including resilient struts bearing on the bar and on the mid length of the end portions, so that said end portions constitute levers whose fulcrums are formed by said struts, said fulcruins normally maintaining the inner jaws pressed against the outer jaws, and permitting displacement of the inner jaws to permit unopposed insertion of collar members, or the like, between said jaws.

3. A clasp as specified by claim 2, said strip having narrow fiat sides, the inner ends of the said levers being in close proximity to each other to permit the simultaneous displacement of the inner jaws by pressure of a thumb on said inner ends, the mid length portion of the bar being recessed to form a rest for a finger applied to the bar, said rest being formed to prevent liability of the crosswise tipping of the clasp by pressure exerted thereon by the finger.

In testimony whereof I have a'lfixed my signature.

WVILLIAM H. AVERILL. 

